The Argosy — page 22: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

10 The Village Blacksmith. ‘’ Now, Mr. Tempest, you know Mary Jane’s age as well as you know your own! Isn't it thirteen years this very month since you accepted this living, because it was near the Catholic church for Madame to go to? And didn't I leave your service the following May, to marry poor Canter? And isn’t Mary Jane my eldest child ? How should she possibly be more than eleven? Just tell me that, if you please, sir.” But Mr. Ryot Tempest did not care to enter into any such biological possibilities. He preferred to own he had made a mistake in Mary Jane’s age, whilst he inwardly racked his brains to think of some way of getting rid of this terrible woman, who, in her last speech, had touched two of his tenderest points. She had alluded to his wife's religion, and, indirectly, to her nationality, with the sole object of annoying him, as he very well knew. “True; I see I have made a mistake ; she is only eleven. I fear I must fine you again, Mrs. Canter. Ladies and gentlemen, you have heard Mrs. Canter’s defence. Do you think these domestic arrange- ments justify her in keeping her child from school ?” ‘* Now, Mr. Tempest, what should these four gentlemen, and these ladies, one who has never been married, and one a childless widow, know about a mother’s duties? No more than I know of foreign tongues! Not so much; for I learnt a little French when I nursed your children, God bless them both. You can judge far better than any of them, Mr. Tempest, for you can keep house as well as any lady, and always did in my time.” This was true; but it was not a fact Mr. Ryot Tempest cared: to have published. However, he did not show any uritation; he only resolved to get the enemy out of the room as quickly as possible. ‘¢ Well, there is no need, I think, to discuss the matter further. I must fine you half-a-crown for each offence; that is ten shillings. Are you prepared to pay it?” “Ten shillings! A fine imposition it is, too, I will say, sir. Yes, I'll pay it and have done with it; but I shall charge double price for every article I wash for every member of this Board until I see this ten shillings back again, so I give you all fair warning, ladies and gentlemen. Double price for everything : shirts, collars, pocket- handkerchiefs, night-dresses, petti Quite so, quite so, Mrs. Canter! We all understand, and under the circumstances, we all consent to the arrangement. Good-day,” said the chairman, anxious to shorten the list Mrs, Canter would fain have run through as she paid her fine. ‘“‘ Before I go, sir, I should just like to tell the committee I am leaving this neighbourhood at Midsummer; and I am glad to say where I am going there is no Board School; the clergy knows better than to have one. Good-day, ladies and gentlemen.” And with this parting thrust, Mrs. Canter took her portly self and her children out of the room. conniclooolkks CO